PDP says won’t budge from AFSPA revocation demand

‘Sooner or later, Act has to go from Kashmir’

Srinagar, Jan 29 (KNS): The ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday said it hasn’t budged an inch from its demand over revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and would keep rigorously pursuing to get it scrapped.
The PDP chief spokesman, Rafi Ahmad Mir told KNS that the AFSPA revocation from Jammu and Kashmir is a priority for the PDP and that the party is working on all fronts to get it revoked.
He however stated that the act cannot be repealed by a single party and all other political groups are needed to be taken on board. “These needs to be a consensus over the revocation of AFSPA. All concerned parties including the security grid has to be taken on board to initiate the process,” PDP spokesman said.
Reacting to the recent statement of the army chief Bipin Rawat, Mir said that the army chief could speak about his perspective over the issue; however, the party believes that the act has to go from the state of Jammu and Kashmir. “The PDP hasn’t budged any inch from its stand over the repeal of AFSPA. We will get working for it with earnest efforts,” said the PDP spokesman.
Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat on Sunday said in New Delhi that time has not come for any rethink on AFSPA or making some of its provisions milder. "We have never been strong in applying the force the way it could be applied (under AFSPA). We are very concerned about human rights. We are absolutely concerned about collateral damage. So do not get too much concerned because we are taking adequate measures and precautions," he said. (KNS)